Members of Saosin for this album:
Cove Reber - Vocals
Beau Burchell - Guitar, Vocals
Justin Shekoski - Guitar, Vocals
Chris Sorenson - Bass
Alex Rodriguez - Drums
Original Release Date: September 26, 2006
Label as produced: Capitol
"One of the most anticipated releases of 2006", A.P. calls it out on being. "One of the most anticipated releases that should of came out awhile ago", is what came to mind when I saw this sticker on the brand new self titled Saosin album. The point being that this band back in 2003 produced a 5 song e.p. that strung up huge amounts of shown potential in a band which is fairly unique in its genre. Yes, the whole scream and sing thing is a popular transition of art these days where it's made it's way onto being fairly mainstream but I'm pretty damn sure that there isn't anyone who really had the vocaling power of Anthony Green. Let's also not forget the original and interesting guitar work produced by Beau Burchell and that pounding double bass from Alex Rodriguez. With the departure of Anthony Green, Cover Reber steps up to the plate to be the lead vox of Saosin. We all know from indirect, and direct experiences that when singers get changed, screwy things can happen with the band. On September 26, 2006 it's finally time to let it be known what Saosin is REALLY all about...
The introduction of this album begins with
It's Far Better To Learn, and it's felt right away that the tension is building up. Signature like Saosin guitar work that everyone is reminded of makes itself no stranger with it's lead lick palm muted during the intro. The vocals come in and the whole band comes into a full range of effects. Honestly, when I got to the chorus of this song I felt knocked out of breathe and so excited for whats to come between the singing being up to par with everything else. At about the 2 minute mark the guitar truely shines, shredding as Cove lets it be known that he's here to stay.
Sleepers is the second song off the album which many fans know of as it's demo name "I Wanna Hear Another Fast Song". I have to let it be known that I hate it when bands release EP songs and have the same exact version of the song on the LP, and just change the title or something. As far as I know an EP is like a rough draft, or an open book and an LP is more of a finalized product. The vocals and all of the little time changes are so much better now. The production of the album truely shines on a song like this with all of the little variations at the end of the choruses. I really didn't care for this song on the EP but this song really does kick on the LP.
It's So Simple starts off shockingly really because it presents Cove Rebers voice without much anything else going on. The way he sings throughout this song is so beautiful, it really puts a perspective on why he may of gotten recruited after Anthony Green. I don't mean to discourage his voice in any other of the previous songs but it seems like that this song was made to really shown up his vocal capablities. I found the chorus of this song to be so catchy to matter "how simple" the lyrics were. (no pun intended)
Voices is the first single off of Saosins s/t album and I remember hearing this song awhile back and being awfully turned off by it. It really isn't like Old Saosin ways, and I mean that by style. The musicianship is still wonderful and the vocals are there but it isn't a "Translating the name" or "Lost Symphonies". When I purchased this CD I wanted to try my hardest to leave behind my old biases and I really started to enjoy this song. I wish this song was half sung and half screamed out because I could of name so many parts in verses where old saosin screaming vox would of fit IMO superbly. I still don't really understand the acoustic interlude in this song because it really feels out of place from the whole song. The song is really easy to listen to and it's probably why it's the single, but not one of my favorites.
Finding Home comes out kist like "It's So Simple" and really highlights Coves voice. This song really shows off a pop-punk side of Saosin that we haven't seen really ever. The song feels really bouncy with a moving bass line and clean guitar licks. This song seems to be about the bands experience of touring and finding a homage within doing that. The song can easily be sung along with but feels really one dimensional in not really going in any direction futher then it's sing-a-long like chorus.
Follow and Feel starts off with a nice little guitar riff that will reminds you of the old days for old fans of Saosin. I don't know how to explain this, and I really hope that this makes sense but I feel like that this is a song that Saosin would of wrote with Anthony Green if he was still with the band at this moment. Alot of the old elements of shredding riffs, constructive chord choruses, with a fast pace of singing is here. Sometimes I really do believe it's Anthony Green singing this song, and I can just picture him doing a song like this.
Come Close is a slower paced song that has better lyrics IMO then the other songs. Cove Rebbers voice is singing out in front of a wall of crashing octave chords by the guitarists. I really enjoyed this song alot because even at a slower pace, the singing and guitarwork seems to blend in phenomenally. I can relate to this songs lyrics from my own personal life but I feel like this song on a literal stand point is speaking the bands mind of "this is who we are now".
I Never Wanted To starts out differently then the rest of the songs and feels more like an acoustic ballad. At a slow pace the band shows alot of melody and a diversity of sound really. I feel like I'm beginning to sound like an answering machine by saying Cove Rebers voice is beautifully put out over the acoustic guitar. If I go back three years ago, and listen to songs like "Seven Years" and " 3rd measurement in C" I really can't believe the same band that made those songs made a song like this one. It's delicate and soft but packs a gritty punch of vocals and guitar work in the end. It reminds me of Hidden In Plain View. (<insert girls high pitchy screams here>)
Collapse is one of the harder songs on the album and reminds me alot of "3rd Measurement in C" and "They perched...". It made me smile listening to a song like this because it reminds me of the old band and I think it's good that a band can stick to it's roots. I know so many bands that change there whole style around just because they lost a member or two, and they never play there old songs like it hurts them or something (*Cough Taking Back Sunday). The guitar riff during the breakdown and intro seriously mesmerize me throughout this song.
You're Not Alone - The introduction of this song reminds me of the band Sparta, and I like the whole laid back music feeling to this song. It's at a slower pace, but it isn't of painstaking slow acoustic and the chorus really takes a form for the whole foundation of this song. I really liked the guitar solo at the end of this song though.
Bury Your Head, as the demo/ep version was my favorite song from this band as it seemed like they were really sorting out there sound and practicing playing the older songs from the Anthony Green Era. I can't put my finger on it but there are parts I like better from the EP version and parts I like better from the LP version. It's like if both versions had a baby, it'd be perfect. The timing in the intro I liked awhole lot better when it was faster paced on the EP but the chorus addons and vocals are so much better on the LP. Of course the LP has alot more production value in it, and the song really hasn't changed for the most part but unlike "I Wanna Hear Another Fast Song/ Sleepers" some of the changed parts left me wondering "why?" when it was fine/better as was.
Some Sense Of Security starts off with booming drums and the guitar and bass slowly fill in. The bass during the intro has a nice little lead on, and is really one of the only times it feels like the bass moves away from the rest of the band. This song is fast paced and will not make you forget about this album, it's that simple. This song is definitely it, and I'm glad that they left the album off with this song because it only feels appropiate to go out on top. I know when I hear this song live, I'm going to lose it because it's simply amazing for old and new Saosin fans alike.
Saosin has post-hardcore influences but they are majority wise a pop-punk band. I don't want to start a genre war with anyone but there were alot of pop elements to this album. Alot of these songs can make this band really big, but this band isn't going to become big for what it was in 2003. I'm tearing down the old Saosin bias and I start a new, and if this was a band that I never heard of and this is was there debut album I'd probably rate this album even higher then I should. It's all here really, taking the best of genres and fusing them together making Saosin a unique band in my eyes. I swear some of the guitarwork on this album can qualify into making a metal core band get on it's knees and I am truely in love with the style of guitar as much as I love the Bleds musicianship with 6 strings.
Cove Reber is not Anthony Green but no one is Anthony Green but that man who does the dancing and singing in a band called Circa Survive. What I admire most about Cove is the fact that he took elements of Anthony Greens early Saosin style and added his own personality with his singing. Alot of people give this band crap because Anthony Green is no longer in it, but I saw this band on the 2005 Warped tour and I know alot of bands dont play old songs when they change lead singers. Wrong. Cove Reber with the current line of Saosin played all 5 songs on the EP + Bury Your Head + I Wanna Hear Another Fast Song. The guy has some serious chops in a live experience and it kind of perplexs me where all the screaming has gone on this album. The singing is beautifully angelic at times but this guy definitely didn't pull any cracky voice un-tamed screams while doing the old songs live.
All in all I can highly recommend this album to new fans of the band who are into that whole pop-punk thing. I know alot of Circa Survive fans can even enjoy this album, and I'm sure not all of the old Saosin fans will be turned off. Seriously, it's ignorance if you can't give this album a shot just because the infamous Anthony Green isn't doing the vocals. Yeah, he's a fantastic lead man but this album by Saosin proves that he didn't make the band.
In Summary, Saosin = the same musical elements with different style of vocals.
Pros:
+ Angelic and Unique Singing
+ Guitarwork is flattering
+ Some Sense of Security
+ The album artwork is basically awsesome
+ IMO the tracks in the order they are, are layed out perfect. (beg to differ)
Cons:
- Lyrics are so CORNY at times
- Old fans who loved scream/sing will prob get turned off
- Alot of slow pace songs in a row can mean skipping without patience
UIAC Gives Saosin s/t - 4 stars
